‘As I said before, I’m a businessman, anjo. And I currently have a yacht worth tens of millions of dollars that needs an owner. The Boat Show starts next week. I relocated aboard in order to get it in shape for prospective buyers, otherwise our dinner would have taken place at my residence in Leblon and your brother’s delicate feelings would’ve been spared.’
She frowned. ‘You’re selling the boat?’ The thought of the beautiful vessel going to some unknown, probably pompous new owner made her nose wrinkle in distaste. The design was exquisite, unique…sort of like its owner. As hard as she tried to imagine it, she couldn’t see anyone else owning the boat besides Theo. Not even Pietro. Its black and gold contrasts depicted darkness and light in a complementary synergy—two fascinating characteristics she’d glimpsed more than once in Theo.
‘Needs must.’
She looked around the beautiful deck, imagined its graceful lines awash with sunlight, and sighed.
Theo’s eyes narrowed as he stared across at her. ‘You like the boat.’
‘Yes, it’s…beautiful.’
He watched her for a few minutes then he nodded. ‘Let’s make a date for Sunday afternoon. We’ll take her out for a quick spin.’
She laughed. ‘Unless I’m mistaken, this is a four hundred foot vessel. You don’t just take her out for a quick spin.’
‘A long spin, then. I need to make sure it runs perfectly. If you still like it when we return to shore, I’ll keep it.’
Her heart lurched then sped up like a runaway freight train. ‘You would do that…for me?’
‘Sim,’ he replied simply.
Genuine puzzlement, along with a heavy dose of excitement she didn’t want to admit to, made her blurt, ‘Why?’
He strolled lazily to where she stood. This close, she had to tilt her head to catch his gaze. Darkness and light. He might have been smiling but Inez could almost reach out and touch the undercurrent of emotions swirling beneath his civility. She jumped slightly when he brushed a forefinger down her cheek.
‘Because I intend to keep you, anjo. And while you will not have a lot of choice in the matter, I’m willing to make a few adjustments to ensure your contentment.’
CHAPTER FIVE
THEO WATCHED HER grapple with what he’d just said. Unlike her brother, she wasn’t inebriated—she’d barely touched her glass of the rich Barolo 2009 he’d specially chosen for their dinner.
She shook her head in confusion. ‘You intend to keep me?’
Her skin, satin-smooth beneath his touch, begged to be caressed. He gave in to the urge and traced her from cheek to jaw. When she withdrew from him, he followed. He stroked the pulse beating in her neck and pushed back the need to step closer, touch his mouth to the spot.
He’d learnt two things last night.
The first was that Benedicto da Costa, for all his cunning and veneer of sophistication, was still a greedy, vicious snake who thought he could con millions of dollars out of an unsuspecting fool like him.
The second was that Inez da Costa could be a key player in the slow and painful revenge he intended to exact for the wrong done to him. It didn’t hurt that the chemistry between them burned the very air they breathed.
In the past Theo had made several opportune decisions by switching tactics at the last minute and making the most of whatever situation he found himself him.
With the newfound information at his fingertips, he’d found a way not only to end the da Costas once and for all, but also to make a tidy profit to boot.
He barely stopped himself from smiling as he looked down into Inez’s face. She really was stunningly beautiful. With a mouth that begged to be explored.
‘Mr Pantelides?’
‘Theo,’ he murmured, anticipating her refusal to use his first name.
She blew out an exasperated breath. ‘Theo. Explain yourself.’
The unexpected sound of his name on her lips sent a pulse of heat through his body. Followed swiftly by a feeling he recognised as pleasure.
With a silent curse he dropped his hand. Pleasure featured nowhere on his mission to Rio. Nor was standing around, gazing into the face that reminded him of the painting of an angel that used to hang in his father’s house.